I’m 50 and need to get a job. What should I do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to nursing school. There’s a huge demand and it pays well. Enroll tomorrow.

This. You can earn $150K a few years from now doing shift work 12 x a month.

She’s fifty. I imagine nursing, especially shift work nursing, it would be hard on her body.

[Anonymous]

I concur with earlier posters. Temp, then stay on permanently and move up from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I second the preschool option. They always need subs, aides and administrators. I would check with private schools as well.

but they get paid nothing. I think these are dead end jobs for most people. Substitute teaching is the worst. The pay is a joke.

Can these jobs be used as jumping boards to some other jobs? If you have no resume, and a general degree without special training that you got decades ago you gotta start somewhere. I don't think she can jump into a "career" type of jobs right away unless she has some specialized skills and connections or she goes for a new degree.

Preschool teaching can be lovely for someone who loves it but it's extremely low-paying and you don't have anywhere to go career-wise except if you wanted to start your own daycare or school or something, but that's a whole set of different skills and one I wouldn't advise to start at 50. Substitute teaching is a stop-gap but it can be a way to decide if you want to be a full-time teacher. The teacher resident program for people with a BA degree is a real career path that OP could start--if she at all thought she was cut out for teaching--as that's developing a profession and there's support in place to get licensed and they have benefits, time off etc. that many value. BUt it's a hard job.

This. No one is saying that teaching is an easy job; it's going to give OP the highest income and good benefits given the fact that she has no career. OP should take advantage of the teacher shortage and get a FT teaching job while she works on her certifications. It's the one career path that she actually can jump into right now.

It sounds like some posters want to punish OP for not having a career.

I am the poster who mentioned how brutal teaching is. I agree that it is the best choice as far as job availability and benefits, but don’t underestimate how rough the job is. I watch people devote tons of energy to teaching just to quit at the end of the first year. I don’t recommend the profession because the “stay” rate is so low. Most who start don’t last.

Depending on how the numbers are done, 35-45% of teachers leave within the first 5 years -- though that includes people who left for maternity to SAHP and who may later return. Also, OP would be in the position to try it out for a year without having to go through the licensure part so less of a loss. I would recommend subbing this spring if she really were interested to know if it's 100% not for her.

OP,
If I were to ask 10 teachers whether someone should enter the profession right now, I’m confident 9 will give you a resounding no. I agree that subbing is a good way to get your feet wet. You’ll see the behaviors in the classroom, the defeat in the faculty lounge, and the piles of work that head out the door at the end of the day.

I sincerely wish you the best. Part of that is cautioning you against teaching. Yes, we will hire you tomorrow and we’ll help you get certified. You’ll get health care and a decent salary. Just know it comes at a cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

NP. This is such a shitty attitude. Whoever is willing to work should be able to work. OP isn’t worthless or unemployable just because you’ve been pushing papers around your desk for 10 more years than her.

Wrong. Specific careers require specific skills. You can't just jump in at 50...it does not work that way. Unless you are striving to be a secretary, which is fine, but don't act like someone deserves a full blown career with advancement and high pay if they have not worked in 2 decades. That is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I second the preschool option. They always need subs, aides and administrators. I would check with private schools as well.

but they get paid nothing. I think these are dead end jobs for most people. Substitute teaching is the worst. The pay is a joke.

Can these jobs be used as jumping boards to some other jobs? If you have no resume, and a general degree without special training that you got decades ago you gotta start somewhere. I don't think she can jump into a "career" type of jobs right away unless she has some specialized skills and connections or she goes for a new degree.

Preschool teaching can be lovely for someone who loves it but it's extremely low-paying and you don't have anywhere to go career-wise except if you wanted to start your own daycare or school or something, but that's a whole set of different skills and one I wouldn't advise to start at 50. Substitute teaching is a stop-gap but it can be a way to decide if you want to be a full-time teacher. The teacher resident program for people with a BA degree is a real career path that OP could start--if she at all thought she was cut out for teaching--as that's developing a profession and there's support in place to get licensed and they have benefits, time off etc. that many value. BUt it's a hard job.

This. No one is saying that teaching is an easy job; it's going to give OP the highest income and good benefits given the fact that she has no career. OP should take advantage of the teacher shortage and get a FT teaching job while she works on her certifications. It's the one career path that she actually can jump into right now.

It sounds like some posters want to punish OP for not having a career.

I am the poster who mentioned how brutal teaching is. I agree that it is the best choice as far as job availability and benefits, but don’t underestimate how rough the job is. I watch people devote tons of energy to teaching just to quit at the end of the first year. I don’t recommend the profession because the “stay” rate is so low. Most who start don’t last.

Depending on how the numbers are done, 35-45% of teachers leave within the first 5 years -- though that includes people who left for maternity to SAHP and who may later return. Also, OP would be in the position to try it out for a year without having to go through the licensure part so less of a loss. I would recommend subbing this spring if she really were interested to know if it's 100% not for her.

OP,
If I were to ask 10 teachers whether someone should enter the profession right now, I’m confident 9 will give you a resounding no. I agree that subbing is a good way to get your feet wet. You’ll see the behaviors in the classroom, the defeat in the faculty lounge, and the piles of work that head out the door at the end of the day.

I sincerely wish you the best. Part of that is cautioning you against teaching. Yes, we will hire you tomorrow and we’ll help you get certified. You’ll get health care and a decent salary. Just know it comes at a cost.

At this point, OP just needs to work for 12 or so years. She's not a 22 year old staring down what to do for the next 40 years, and she doesn't have much time to work her way up. If you have a better idea for how OP could get an instant income and benefits then please share.

[Anonymous]

Neither OP, nor anyone else on this thread has made a case that OP "deserves..."

There is just one PP who keeps arguing that OP doesn't DESERVE a great job or a career or something.

This isn't about being entitled to anything. OP, and many others who were full-time managing kids/home, is just looking for ideas on how she can become employed. There is literally ZERO need to throw disdain and judgment in OP's direction or in the direction of any SAHP. It reflects REALLY poorly on you, PP who keeps talking about what OP doesn't "deserve." It reflects on your bitterness at the choices you made, and possibly your own jealousy that someone wasn't as unhappy in life as you are/have been. That's really sad. But, it's all about your unhappiness that you are projecting on OP and other SAHPs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I concur with earlier posters. Temp, then stay on permanently and move up from there.

Yep. My company hired temps into permanent roles frequently, including women re entering the workforce and people completely changing careers. Take a temp role answering phones or something and show them you’re a good worker.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am in the same boat as you. I'm out here after nearly 20 years raising DC also looking to restart a work life. It's not easy and some days it feels so daunting, but keep going, OK? There's a place for our skills and experience. If nothing else, as a pp said, I'm not job hunting while weary from burnout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neither OP, nor anyone else on this thread has made a case that OP "deserves..."

There is just one PP who keeps arguing that OP doesn't DESERVE a great job or a career or something.

This isn't about being entitled to anything. OP, and many others who were full-time managing kids/home, is just looking for ideas on how she can become employed. There is literally ZERO need to throw disdain and judgment in OP's direction or in the direction of any SAHP. It reflects REALLY poorly on you, PP who keeps talking about what OP doesn't "deserve." It reflects on your bitterness at the choices you made, and possibly your own jealousy that someone wasn't as unhappy in life as you are/have been. That's really sad. But, it's all about your unhappiness that you are projecting on OP and other SAHPs.

This is nonsense. She can get an admin job. But she does not deserve rapid advancement. Dumb to be a stay at home parent. It is the most financially stupid thing a person can do. Btw, my mom was a SAHM. Bad parent. I have no respect for people who stay at home and then can’t support themselves. They are essentially adult children. Grow up.

[Anonymous]

Well if you have put yourself in a bad position by not working for all these years you need to look fat into the future and know that your 70yrbold self will probably still be working. Pick a career that can support that. RN is definitly not it. You might need to invest in your education to get anything worth while. Given your age, to be quite honest I’d go back to school for elementary tracher. You won’t run up against age discrimination and highly unlikely you will get laid off

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither OP, nor anyone else on this thread has made a case that OP "deserves..."

There is just one PP who keeps arguing that OP doesn't DESERVE a great job or a career or something.

This isn't about being entitled to anything. OP, and many others who were full-time managing kids/home, is just looking for ideas on how she can become employed. There is literally ZERO need to throw disdain and judgment in OP's direction or in the direction of any SAHP. It reflects REALLY poorly on you, PP who keeps talking about what OP doesn't "deserve." It reflects on your bitterness at the choices you made, and possibly your own jealousy that someone wasn't as unhappy in life as you are/have been. That's really sad. But, it's all about your unhappiness that you are projecting on OP and other SAHPs.

This is nonsense. She can get an admin job. But she does not deserve rapid advancement. Dumb to be a stay at home parent. It is the most financially stupid thing a person can do. Btw, my mom was a SAHM. Bad parent. I have no respect for people who stay at home and then can’t support themselves. They are essentially adult children. Grow up.

“Deserve”? That’s just you being judgmental.

OP will get whatever job/career she gets. It has nothing to do with “deserving” anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to nursing school. There’s a huge demand and it pays well. Enroll tomorrow.

This. You can earn $150K a few years from now doing shift work 12 x a month.

She’s fifty. I imagine nursing, especially shift work nursing, it would be hard on her body.

There are jobs that are easier physically in nursing, like pediatrics. Lighter lifting! But you have to have the temperament for it (and, if working peds in a hospital, a lot of emotional resilience -- you will see some sad stuff).

Hospital floor nursing is physically most grueling compared to, say, doctor's office, but it pays better, so there's a tradeoff. Maybe consider being a school nurse or camp nurse. Or my older relative does nursing exams for an insurance company

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I second the preschool option. They always need subs, aides and administrators. I would check with private schools as well.

but they get paid nothing. I think these are dead end jobs for most people. Substitute teaching is the worst. The pay is a joke.

Can these jobs be used as jumping boards to some other jobs? If you have no resume, and a general degree without special training that you got decades ago you gotta start somewhere. I don't think she can jump into a "career" type of jobs right away unless she has some specialized skills and connections or she goes for a new degree.

Preschool teaching can be lovely for someone who loves it but it's extremely low-paying and you don't have anywhere to go career-wise except if you wanted to start your own daycare or school or something, but that's a whole set of different skills and one I wouldn't advise to start at 50. Substitute teaching is a stop-gap but it can be a way to decide if you want to be a full-time teacher. The teacher resident program for people with a BA degree is a real career path that OP could start--if she at all thought she was cut out for teaching--as that's developing a profession and there's support in place to get licensed and they have benefits, time off etc. that many value. BUt it's a hard job.

This. No one is saying that teaching is an easy job; it's going to give OP the highest income and good benefits given the fact that she has no career. OP should take advantage of the teacher shortage and get a FT teaching job while she works on her certifications. It's the one career path that she actually can jump into right now.

It sounds like some posters want to punish OP for not having a career.

I am the poster who mentioned how brutal teaching is. I agree that it is the best choice as far as job availability and benefits, but don’t underestimate how rough the job is. I watch people devote tons of energy to teaching just to quit at the end of the first year. I don’t recommend the profession because the “stay” rate is so low. Most who start don’t last.

Depending on how the numbers are done, 35-45% of teachers leave within the first 5 years -- though that includes people who left for maternity to SAHP and who may later return. Also, OP would be in the position to try it out for a year without having to go through the licensure part so less of a loss. I would recommend subbing this spring if she really were interested to know if it's 100% not for her.

OP,
If I were to ask 10 teachers whether someone should enter the profession right now, I’m confident 9 will give you a resounding no. I agree that subbing is a good way to get your feet wet. You’ll see the behaviors in the classroom, the defeat in the faculty lounge, and the piles of work that head out the door at the end of the day.

I sincerely wish you the best. Part of that is cautioning you against teaching. Yes, we will hire you tomorrow and we’ll help you get certified. You’ll get health care and a decent salary. Just know it comes at a cost.

At this point, OP just needs to work for 12 or so years. She's not a 22 year old staring down what to do for the next 40 years, and she doesn't have much time to work her way up. If you have a better idea for how OP could get an instant income and benefits then please share.

Okay… but many people don’t last 12 years. I’m 20 years in (and almost OP’s age) and I’m ready to quit. It is unfair to OP to suggest teaching without mentioning the reality: it’s beyond grueling. Yes, she will get hired easily without certification, but that’s because people keep quitting. We had a new teacher quit the second week this year. She left a note on the classroom door and never came back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I second the preschool option. They always need subs, aides and administrators. I would check with private schools as well.

but they get paid nothing. I think these are dead end jobs for most people. Substitute teaching is the worst. The pay is a joke.

Can these jobs be used as jumping boards to some other jobs? If you have no resume, and a general degree without special training that you got decades ago you gotta start somewhere. I don't think she can jump into a "career" type of jobs right away unless she has some specialized skills and connections or she goes for a new degree.

Preschool teaching can be lovely for someone who loves it but it's extremely low-paying and you don't have anywhere to go career-wise except if you wanted to start your own daycare or school or something, but that's a whole set of different skills and one I wouldn't advise to start at 50. Substitute teaching is a stop-gap but it can be a way to decide if you want to be a full-time teacher. The teacher resident program for people with a BA degree is a real career path that OP could start--if she at all thought she was cut out for teaching--as that's developing a profession and there's support in place to get licensed and they have benefits, time off etc. that many value. BUt it's a hard job.

This. No one is saying that teaching is an easy job; it's going to give OP the highest income and good benefits given the fact that she has no career. OP should take advantage of the teacher shortage and get a FT teaching job while she works on her certifications. It's the one career path that she actually can jump into right now.

It sounds like some posters want to punish OP for not having a career.

I am the poster who mentioned how brutal teaching is. I agree that it is the best choice as far as job availability and benefits, but don’t underestimate how rough the job is. I watch people devote tons of energy to teaching just to quit at the end of the first year. I don’t recommend the profession because the “stay” rate is so low. Most who start don’t last.

Depending on how the numbers are done, 35-45% of teachers leave within the first 5 years -- though that includes people who left for maternity to SAHP and who may later return. Also, OP would be in the position to try it out for a year without having to go through the licensure part so less of a loss. I would recommend subbing this spring if she really were interested to know if it's 100% not for her.

OP,
If I were to ask 10 teachers whether someone should enter the profession right now, I’m confident 9 will give you a resounding no. I agree that subbing is a good way to get your feet wet. You’ll see the behaviors in the classroom, the defeat in the faculty lounge, and the piles of work that head out the door at the end of the day.

I sincerely wish you the best. Part of that is cautioning you against teaching. Yes, we will hire you tomorrow and we’ll help you get certified. You’ll get health care and a decent salary. Just know it comes at a cost.

At this point, OP just needs to work for 12 or so years. She's not a 22 year old staring down what to do for the next 40 years, and she doesn't have much time to work her way up. If you have a better idea for how OP could get an instant income and benefits then please share.

Okay… but many people don’t last 12 years. I’m 20 years in (and almost OP’s age) and I’m ready to quit. It is unfair to OP to suggest teaching without mentioning the reality: it’s beyond grueling. Yes, she will get hired easily without certification, but that’s because people keep quitting. We had a new teacher quit the second week this year. She left a note on the classroom door and never came back.

+100 who are these people who keep on recommending teaching to this poor 50 year old sahm? Are they living under a rock that they don’t realize that young, experienced teachers are leaving the professional in record numbers, because it sucks to be a teacher these days?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither OP, nor anyone else on this thread has made a case that OP "deserves..."

There is just one PP who keeps arguing that OP doesn't DESERVE a great job or a career or something.

This isn't about being entitled to anything. OP, and many others who were full-time managing kids/home, is just looking for ideas on how she can become employed. There is literally ZERO need to throw disdain and judgment in OP's direction or in the direction of any SAHP. It reflects REALLY poorly on you, PP who keeps talking about what OP doesn't "deserve." It reflects on your bitterness at the choices you made, and possibly your own jealousy that someone wasn't as unhappy in life as you are/have been. That's really sad. But, it's all about your unhappiness that you are projecting on OP and other SAHPs.

This is nonsense. She can get an admin job. But she does not deserve rapid advancement. Dumb to be a stay at home parent. It is the most financially stupid thing a person can do. Btw, my mom was a SAHM. Bad parent. I have no respect for people who stay at home and then can’t support themselves. They are essentially adult children. Grow up.

Clearly some issues you are projecting on others! Yikes.